You have been quick to rally around a dad who said he had no regrets about attacking the teenager who raped his young son.

As the 17-year-old rapist was jailed at Newcastle Crown Court for three years and three months, we reported how the victim’s father - who waited outside for the sentence - said he was pleased he took justice into his own hands.

He knocked the teenager to the ground then stamped on him for abusing his son when he was six and seven years old, and earlier appeared in court himself on assault charges.

The 30-year-old, who cannot be named to protect his son’s identity, was given a suspended eight-month prison sentence and a restraining order which meant he could not attend the sentencing of the rapist who protested his innocence but was convicted, following a trial, on two counts of rape and one of inciting a child into sexual activity. He has no previous convictions.

Instead he stood outside with a placard which read “Jail the paedo for raping my son”.

The story provoked furious comment on our Facebook page with almost everybody supporting the father’s actions.

Most claimed they would have done the same or worse, and railed against the sentence of the rapist who also cannot be named due to being a youth. Only two people raised concerns over vigilante justice.

Carola Muller wrote: “I can’t blame the father. His son’s childhood and innocence was taken away for ever.”

Keith Gallon said: “Where is the justice - three years for raping a minor. If he had committed a robbery where money was involved he would have got triple.”

Christine Kim felt: “Three years for raping a child disgusting. He will be out in 18 months. No justice”, while Jess Dawson said: “Admire the dad for stopping there! Three years is nowhere near enough.”

She added: “What about the physical and mental damage/torture he inflicted on a poor kid. He will never get over that.”

Like Stef Fontouris and others, Frank Scott asked: “Which father wouldn’t do the same given the chance?”

Gavin Trainer asked: “Wouldn’t any father do the same or worse. Pleased he didn’t go to prison. Three years for the rapist is at least 10 years short,” while Tracey Fiddes Harle agreed and said of the three-year sentence: “He’ll be out in 18 months - where’s the justice?”

Samantha Lish called it an “absolute insult”.

Jay M Duffy wrote : “1.5 years?! He won’t do three. The justice system is in desperate need of a total overhaul. Yes the prisons are overcrowded and it costs a lot to keep someone in prison but for this type of offence really, should people who would attack a child of six be out in the world.”

Yvonne Yvee Bertram-wood remarked: “He got just over three years - that innocent child has a life sentence.”

Gavin Wilkinson suggested: “The dad should have been given a warning, nothing more.”

Emma Crowley was critical of the abuser’s sentence but pointed out the father’s sentence was a suspended one: “I think by looks of it they gave him a very light sentence” she said and added: “They have to be seen to do something or vigilante justice will take over.”

Alex Garside wrote: “Vigilantism is wrong. That is why police are there.”

Peter Simpson said: “If people had faith in the justice system they would have no need to take the law into their own hands” and Julie Southern thought: “People feel they have to take the law into their own hands as the justice system is joke. The victim and his family will suffer for life, whilst the criminal gets three years and will only serve half of that in prison. Where is the justice in that!”

And the story even drew a comment from further afield, with Douglas Poteet writing: “We do things different here in Texas. Here you are allowed to defend yourself and your family. Sad day for the father/family.”